23 Oct 2026
2 days ago
86 views
Grants from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will support two marae to strengthen their ability to serve as community hubs and offer refuge in times of emergency, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say. A $4 million grant will go to Mataura Marae in the Southland town of Mataura. A $150,000 grant will also be provided from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to Takitimu Marae in Wairoa.
23 Jul 2026
3 months ago
691 views
Ownership of 11 temporary homes at Ōmāhu Marae in Hawke’s Bay has been transferred from the Government to local Māori authorities to support Māori-led housing and community resilience following Cyclone Gabrielle. This transfer honors Treaty obligations by enabling local stewardship, preserving cultural continuity, and ensuring the homes remain affordable and serve social good. The initiative reflects partnership and empowerment of Māori communities, with the village named Utaina Ōmāhu symbolizing unity and strength.
27 Jun 2026
4 months ago
755 views
The New Zealand Government is investing up to $8.6 million to establish Ngāmotu Marae in central New Plymouth, providing Ngāti Te Whiti with a long overdue home and serving as a cultural, social, and economic hub for the wider community. The marae will feature facilities like a wharenui and wharekai, doubling as an emergency lifeline offering food, shelter, and essential services during crises. With a total cost of $17.8 million and multiple co-funders, the project aims to support jobs during construction and foster long-term cultural tourism, local enterprise, and community development.
04 Jun 2026
4 months ago
928 views
The Government’s Māori Climate Platform has allocated over $10 million across Stages 1 and 2 to fund resilience and emergency preparedness upgrades for marae in multiple regions, including solar power and water storage systems. These investments support marae as vital community hubs and refuges during severe weather events and emergencies, ensuring essential services remain operational. Notably, Waiwhetū Marae’s upgrades enable it to function as a Civil Defence hub, exemplifying locally led solutions that enhance community resilience.
16 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1428 views
The New Zealand Government has allocated $27.6 million through the Whenua Māori and Marae Pathway to relocate and rebuild two Hawke’s Bay marae, Petāne and Tangoio, in safer locations after severe damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. Both marae were assessed as Category 3, indicating unacceptable future risk from flooding and landslides, prompting the need for relocation to new sites at 253 Onehunga Road and 139 Beach Road, respectively. This investment aims to ensure the marae continue to support their communities, especially during emergencies, by strengthening resilience and providing certainty for future generations.
30 Jan 2026
8 months ago
1369 views
A restoration project on Northland’s Kōwhairoa Peninsula Historic Reserve aims to reestablish 110 hectares of native forest through planting 132,000 native trees and pest control, supported by $1.54 million in government funding. Led by Te Komanga Marae Trust and guided by ecologist Dr. Adam Forbes, the initiative revives a culturally and ecologically significant site cleared by early settlers, using locally-sourced seeds. The project, launched in 2019 and funded under the Provincial Growth Fund’s One Billion Trees programme, is progressing well and expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
30 Jan 2026
8 months ago
1353 views
Minister Tama Potaka announced that temporary accommodation, including motorhomes, and marae-led welfare support are being provided to those displaced by recent severe weather, with rapid assessments and placements through the Government’s Temporary Accommodation Service. Marae have played a crucial role in offering shelter and kai, supported by a $1 million Marae Emergency Response Fund to acknowledge their leadership and cover associated costs. People needing accommodation or insurance claim support are encouraged to register with the relevant services, and marae or organizations can seek reimbursement through Te Puni Kōkiri.
28 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1259 views
The Government is deploying motorhomes through the Temporary Accommodation Service to provide immediate housing for people displaced by severe weather in regions including Northland, East Coast, and Bay of Plenty. Agencies are collaborating with local councils, Iwi, and community groups to ensure affected individuals can access accommodation and support, with registration encouraged for those needing temporary housing. Additionally, the Government has allocated funding to support relief efforts, including Mayoral Relief Funds and reimbursements to marae providing welfare services.
27 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1396 views
The Government has established a $1 million Marae Emergency Response Fund to reimburse marae for welfare support provided during severe weather events in the Upper North Island in January 2026. At least 20 marae across five regions offered essential aid such as food, shelter, and power to evacuees and isolated residents, often being the first responders. The fund, administered by Te Puni Kōkiri, allows marae to recover costs and build resilience, with eligible organisations able to apply for reimbursement through their regional offices.
26 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1329 views
The Department of Conservation has launched the Te Pū Hono cadetship programme in Renwick, a 30-month paid initiative aimed at developing a skilled conservation workforce for long-term careers. Selected cadets gain hands-on experience in various conservation tasks, including ecological monitoring, weed control, and historic site restoration, with opportunities to specialize in areas like chainsaw operations. The programme, supported by the government, seeks to ensure DOC’s capability to protect New Zealand’s natural and cultural assets while fostering strong interest in conservation careers.
23 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1487 views
The Government is investing over $10 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to upgrade the National Ringatū Marae Complex in Bay of Plenty, enhancing infrastructure resilience and creating 71 jobs, particularly for Māori youth. The new complex will serve as a cultural, educational, and civil defence hub, preserving the heritage of the Ringatū faith founded by Te Kooti and supporting the broader Māori community. This initiative follows similar investments in other significant marae and aims to strengthen rural marae as vital community assets.
30 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2441 views
New Zealanders will soon benefit from strengthened Whānau Ora support services with a renewed focus on those in greatest need, Whānau Ora Minister Tama Potaka says. Four new Whānau Ora commissioning agencies - Rangitāmiro, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Te Tauraki (a subsidiary of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu), and the Cause Collective (operating as The Tātou Collective) - will begin commissioning services from providers starting 1 July. Mr Potaka attended the launch event for Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira’s Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency at Hongoeka Marae in Plimmerton this morning.